Data on consultants hired to help administer agricultural support payments: FOI release

Information requested

In terms external consultants that have been hired by the Scottish Government to help administer agricultural support payments could you outline:

1. The total number of consultants that have been involved since 2016?

2. Could you list the duties or functions carried out by the consultants since 2016?

3. Could you share any correspondence sent to or from the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Economy and the consultants across the last five years?

Response

The Scottish Government website outlines the consultancy procedure. We have used this in our interpretation of your request to define ‘consultant’.

I have provided a separate response below for each part of the requested information.

1. The total number of consultants that have been involved since 2016?

Since 2016 no consultants have been involved with administering agricultural support payments.

2. Could you list the duties or functions carried out by the consultants since 2016?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, as no consultants have been involved with administering agricultural support payments the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

3. Could you share any correspondence sent to or from the Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Economy and the consultants across the last five years?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, as no consultants have been involved with administering agricultural support payments the Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.